New AI initiative HeritageWatch.AI bolsters protection of heritage sites

The cultural heritage sector is gaining a powerful new ally in the form of HeritageWatch.AI, a collaborative initiative launched in Paris on February 10, 2025. This partnership between Aliph, Iconem, Microsoft, and Planet Labs PBC combines satellite imagery with artificial intelligence to protect historical sites from various threats.

Project overview: The new initiative is a groundbreaking collaboration that seeks to provide real-time monitoring and analysis of cultural heritage sites worldwide through advanced satellite imagery and AI technology.

• The initiative combines Planet Labs’ satellite imagery capabilities, Iconem’s 3D modeling expertise, and Microsoft’s AI computing resources
• The project received initial funding of $1 million from Microsoft, split between $750,000 in services and $250,000 from Aliph
• The system will utilize data from approximately 200 observation satellites to monitor heritage sites daily

Core objectives: HeritageWatch.AI has established three primary focus areas aimed at protecting cultural heritage through predictive and reactive measures.

• Mapping and predicting the impact of climate change and natural disasters on cultural sites
• Assessing damage from environmental changes and conflicts
• Combating illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts by identifying looting activities

Key partnerships: The initiative brings together four organizations with complementary expertise and capabilities.

• Aliph, an intergovernmental cultural heritage body, has distributed $100 million in grants across 41 countries since 2017
• Planet Labs PBC, founded by former NASA scientists, provides daily satellite imagery
• Iconem specializes in creating photorealistic 3D models of historic monuments
• Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab supplies computing resources and artificial intelligence capabilities

Practical applications: The system has already demonstrated its potential through rapid response to heritage emergencies.

• The technology can monitor progressive environmental threats like desertification in the Sahel region
• Aliph previously demonstrated quick response capabilities by providing $500,000 to protect the Sursock Museum in Beirut following the 2020 port explosion
• The system enabled rapid contact with hundreds of Ukrainian cultural institutions during the 2022 Russian invasion

Expert perspectives: Leading figures in cultural heritage preservation have highlighted the transformative potential of this technology.

• UNESCO’s World Heritage director emphasized the current challenges in accessing timely disaster data
• Aliph’s Director of Strategy described the partnership as a game-changer for developing rapid responses
• Microsoft’s chief data scientist highlighted AI’s role in preserving cultural legacies

Looking ahead: Implementation challenges and opportunities: While HeritageWatch.AI shows promise in revolutionizing heritage site protection, its success will depend on the effective integration of various technologies and the ability to deliver actionable insights in real-time to heritage professionals on the ground.